JP4181668B2 - Process cartridge, image forming apparatus, and charger - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic or electrostatic recording type image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine, a process cartridge that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus or process cartridge. The present invention relates to a charger used in the above.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Image forming apparatuses such as printers selectively expose an electrophotographic photosensitive member uniformly charged by a charger to form a latent image, and the latent image is developed with a developer (toner) by a developer. And the toner image is transferred to a recording medium to record an image. Then, the developer remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member after the transfer is removed with a cleaning blade, and the removed developer is stored in a removed developer container, and the next development is performed by the electrophotographic photosensitive member whose surface is cleaned. I am doing so.
[0003]
By the way, in recent years, the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the charging device, the developing device, the cleaning blade, the removed developer container and the like are integrated into a single structure as a process cartridge, so that the developer is loaded by the user into the apparatus main body. In addition, the electrophotographic photosensitive member that can be replaced and is easily maintained has been put to practical use.
[0004]
Furthermore, when the life of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is extended and the number of printable sheets increases, a unit in which a developing device whose supply capability is limited is made independent, an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charger, and a cleaning blade and removal development in an image forming process. The cleaning part consisting of the agent container is divided into an integrated drum cartridge, so that the installation and maintenance of the main body of the device can be facilitated and the usage can be adapted to the life of the main parts. It is coming.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, when the life of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is extended, it is necessary to maintain the performance of the cleaning blade and the charger, which are components of the drum cartridge, during a period corresponding to the life of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.
[0006]
However, since the charging roller used as a charger rotates in contact with a photosensitive drum as an electrophotographic photosensitive member, fine particles such as dust, floating toner, and charged products adhere to the roller surface with long-term use. In some cases, a significant voltage drop point occurs on the roller surface, resulting in poor charging.
[0007]
Accordingly, a main object of the present invention is a process cartridge including at least an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a charging unit of a contact charging roller system, wherein the charging unit can stably maintain charging performance for a long period of time, and the process cartridge Is provided.
[0008]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a charger for an image forming apparatus that can stably maintain charging performance for a long period of time.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above object is achieved by a process cartridge, an image forming apparatus, and a charger according to the present invention. In summary, the present invention relates to a process cartridge having at least an electrophotographic photosensitive member and charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and detachable from an image forming apparatus.
The charging means is a charging roller, and includes a cleaning member that comes into contact with and contact with the charging roller, and a moving member that supports the cleaning member and is capable of reciprocating along the longitudinal direction of the charging roller.
The cleaning member is a planar conductive brush including a fiber portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the charging roller, the fiber portion includes a woven portion and a brush portion, and the cleaning member includes the cleaning member Fixing a woven portion to the moving member, abutting the brush portion forward with the charging roller;
The cleaning member continuously reciprocates in the longitudinal direction in conjunction with the rotation of the charging roller, and the longitudinal movement range of the cleaning member with respect to the charging roller is the exposure of the metal core included in the charging roller. This is a process cartridge characterized by being inside the portion .
[0010]
According to another aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus having at least an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a charging unit that charges the electrophotographic photosensitive member,
The charging means is a charging roller, and includes a cleaning member that comes into contact with and contact with the charging roller, and a moving member that supports the cleaning member and is capable of reciprocating along the longitudinal direction of the charging roller.
The cleaning member is a planar conductive brush including a fiber portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the charging roller, the fiber portion includes a woven portion and a brush portion, and the cleaning member includes the cleaning member Fixing a woven portion to the moving member, abutting the brush portion forward with the charging roller;
The cleaning member continuously reciprocates in the longitudinal direction in conjunction with the rotation of the charging roller, and the longitudinal movement range of the cleaning member with respect to the charging roller is an exposed portion of a metal core included in the charging roller. An image forming apparatus characterized by being inside is provided.
[0011]
According to another aspect of the present invention, in the charger of the image forming apparatus, the charging roller, the cleaning member in contact with and in contact with the charging roller, the cleaning member supported, and the length of the charging roller A moving member capable of reciprocating along the direction,
The cleaning member is a planar conductive brush including a fiber portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the charging roller, the fiber portion includes a woven portion and a brush portion, and the cleaning member includes the cleaning member Fixing a woven portion to the moving member, abutting the brush portion forward with the charging roller;
The cleaning member reciprocates continuously in the longitudinal direction in conjunction with the rotation of the charging roller, and the longitudinal movement range of the cleaning member with respect to the charging roller is from the exposed portion of the metal core included in the charging roller. A charger is also provided that is also inside .
[0012]
According to an embodiment of the present invention, both ends of the woven portion of the conductive brush are cut obliquely with respect to the direction in which the fibers extend. The conductive brush is suspended from the ground . The moving member is made of metal, and the cleaning member is attached to the moving member via an insulating member.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a process cartridge, an image forming apparatus, and a charger according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
[Overall Description of Image Forming Apparatus]
First, the overall configuration of the color image forming apparatus will be schematically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows a color laser printer which is an embodiment of a color image forming apparatus.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 1, the color laser printer includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member (photosensitive drum) 15 that rotates at a constant speed, a fixed black developing device 21B, and a rotatable three-color developing device (yellow developing device). 20Y, a magenta developing device 20M, and a cyan developing device 20C), and a color image developed and image-transferred by the image forming unit is held and fed from the transfer material feeding unit. Further, an intermediate transfer member 9 for further transferring to the transfer material 2 is provided. The transfer material 2 onto which the color image has been transferred from the intermediate transfer body 9 is conveyed to the fixing unit 25 and fixed to the transfer material 2, and is discharged to the discharge unit 37 on the upper surface of the apparatus by the discharge rollers 34, 35 and 36.
[0016]
The three-color rotary developing device and the fixed black developing device are individually detachable from the printer body.
[0017]
Next, the configuration of each part of the image forming apparatus will be sequentially described in detail.
[0018]
[Electrophotographic photoconductor unit]
The drum cartridge 13 which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member unit, that is, the process cartridge in this embodiment, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member (photosensitive drum) 15 and a container 14 of a cleaning device which also serves as a holder for the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15. It is configured. The drum unit 13 is detachably supported with respect to the mounting means 53 of the printer body, and is configured so that the unit can be easily replaced according to the life of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 15.
[0019]
The electrophotographic photoreceptor 15 according to the present embodiment is configured by coating an organic photoconductor layer on the outside of an aluminum cylinder having a diameter of 60 mm, and is rotatably supported by the container 14 of the cleaning device as described above.
[0020]
A cleaner blade 16 and primary charging means 17 are disposed on the periphery of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15, and the driving force of a driving motor (not shown) is transmitted to one end of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15, thereby providing the electrophotographic photosensitive member. 15 is rotated counterclockwise in the figure in accordance with the image forming operation.
[0021]
[Charging means]
The primary charging means 17 is a charging roller using a contact charging method. The surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15 is made uniform by bringing the charging roller into contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15 and applying a voltage to the charging roller 17. To be charged. The charging roller 17 includes a metal core 17a extending in the longitudinal direction at the center thereof, and both end portions are exposed portions 17b and 17b. The exposed members 17b and 17b are biased by the spring members 18 and 18 toward the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15 so that the charging roller 17 is brought into contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15 as described above.
[0022]
A cleaning brush for cleaning is in contact with the charging roller 17, and this charging roller cleaning mechanism will be described in detail later.
[0023]
[Exposure means]
Exposure to the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15 is performed from the scanner unit 30. That is, when an image signal is applied to the laser diode, the laser diode irradiates the polygon mirror 31 with an image corresponding to the image signal.
[0024]
The polygon mirror 31 is rotated at a high speed by the scanner motor 31a, and the image light reflected by the polygon mirror 31 selectively exposes the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15 rotated at a constant speed through the imaging lens 32 and the reflection mirror 33. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15.
[0025]
[Development means]
In order to make the electrostatic latent image visible, the developing means includes three rotary developing units 20Y, 20M, and 20C that can develop yellow, magenta, cyan, and black as described above. The black developing device 21B.
[0026]
The black developing device 21B is a fixed developing device, and a developing sleeve 21BS is disposed at a position facing the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15 with a small interval (about 300 μm) with respect to the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15, and the black is placed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15. A visible image is formed with toner.
[0027]
The black developing device 21B feeds the toner in the container to the toner supply roller 21BR side by the feeding mechanism 21BT, and the toner on the outer periphery of the developing sleeve 21BS that rotates clockwise in the drawing by the coating blade 21BB pressed against the outer periphery of the developing sleeve 21BS. Is applied as a thin layer, and a charge is applied to the toner (friction charging).
[0028]
Further, by applying a developing bias to the developing sleeve 21BS, the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15 is visualized as a toner image.
[0029]
Each of the three rotary developing devices 20Y, 20M, and 20C contains toner equivalent to 6000 pages (A4, 5% printing), and is detachably held as a unit on the developing rotary 23 that rotates about the shaft 22. .
[0030]
At the time of image formation, each developing unit is rotated around the shaft 22 while being held by the developing rotary 23, the predetermined developing unit stops at a position facing the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15, and the developing sleeve is electrophotographic. After being positioned so as to face the photoconductor 15 with a minute interval (about 300 μm), a visible image is formed corresponding to the electrostatic latent image of the electrophotographic photoconductor 15.
[0031]
At the time of color image formation, the developing rotary 23 rotates every rotation of the intermediate transfer member 9, and the developing process is performed in the order of the yellow developing device 20Y, the magenta developing device 20M, the cyan developing device 20C, and then the black developing device 20B.
[0032]
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when the yellow developing device 20Y performs the developing process, the yellow developing device 20Y is positioned and stopped at a position facing the drum cartridge 13, and the toner in the container is fed to the application roller 20YR by the feeding mechanism. A coating roller 20YR that rotates in the clockwise direction in the figure and a blade 20YB that is pressed against the outer periphery of the developing sleeve 20YS apply a thin layer of toner to the outer periphery of the developing sleeve 20YS that rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. (Triboelectric charging).
[0033]
By applying a developing bias to the developing sleeve 20YS facing the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15 on which the latent image is formed, toner development is performed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15 according to the latent image.
[0034]
In the magenta developing device 20M and the cyan developing device 20C, toner development is performed by the same mechanism as described above.
[0035]
The developing sleeves of the rotary developing units 20Y, 20M, and 20C are connected to the high-voltage power supply for color development and driving provided in the printer body when the developing units are rotated to the development position. A voltage is selectively applied sequentially for each color development to transmit driving.
[0036]
[Intermediate transfer member]
The intermediate transfer member 9 receives the toner image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15 visualized by each developing device during the color image forming operation four times (each image of four colors Y, M, C, and B). Therefore, it rotates in the clockwise direction in the figure in synchronization with the outer peripheral speed of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15. In addition, the intermediate transfer body 9 that has undergone multiple transfer simultaneously multiplex-transfers each color toner image on the intermediate transfer body 9 onto the transfer material 2 by sandwiching and transferring the transfer material 2 by a transfer roller 10 to which a voltage is applied. .
[0037]
The intermediate transfer member 9 according to this embodiment has a configuration in which an outer periphery of an aluminum cylinder 12 having a diameter of 180 mm is covered with an elastic layer 11 such as a medium resistance sponge or medium resistance rubber. The intermediate transfer member 9 is rotatably supported and is rotated by being driven by an integrally fixed gear (not shown).
[0038]
[Cleaning means]
The cleaning unit cleans the toner remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15 after the toner visualized on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15 by the developing unit is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 9. The removed toner thus cleaned is stored in the container 14. The amount of removed toner stored in the container 14 does not fill the container 14 earlier than the life of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15, and therefore the container 14 is integrally replaced at the same time when the life of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15 is replaced.
[0039]
As shown in more detail in FIG. 2, the container 14 includes a removed toner intake chamber 43 and a removed toner storage chamber 44 that are integrally formed by frames 41, 101, and 102. A cleaning blade 16 and a cleaning roller 18 including a contact portion 16 a disposed in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15, a transport roller 45, and a removal toner inlet 45 are provided.
[0040]
[Paper Feeder]
The paper feed unit feeds the transfer material 2 to the image forming unit, and includes a cassette 1 containing a plurality of transfer materials 2, paper feed rollers 3 and 4, a double feed prevention retard roller 5, and a paper feed guide. 6, the conveyance roller 7, and the registration roller 8.
[0041]
At the time of image formation, the paper feed roller 3 is driven and rotated in accordance with the image forming operation, separates and feeds the transfer material 2 in the cassette 1 one by one, and is guided by the guide plate 6 and passes through the conveyance roller 7. It reaches the registration roller 8.
[0042]
During the image forming operation, the registration roller 8 performs a non-rotation operation for causing the transfer material 2 to stand still and a rotation operation for conveying the transfer material 2 toward the intermediate transfer body 9 in a predetermined sequence. The image and the transfer material 2 in a certain transfer process are aligned.
[0043]
[Transfer section]
The transfer unit is composed of a swingable transfer roller 10, and the transfer roller 10 has a metal shaft wound with a medium resistance foamed elastic body, and can move up and down in the drawing and has a drive.
[0044]
While the four-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 9, that is, while the intermediate transfer member 9 rotates a plurality of times, the transfer roller 10 is positioned below the solid line in the figure so as not to disturb the image. Positioned and separated from the intermediate transfer member 9.
[0045]
After the formation of the four color toner images on the intermediate transfer member 9, the transfer roller 10 is moved to an upper position indicated by a thin line in the drawing by a cam member (not shown) in accordance with the timing of transferring the color image to the transfer material 2. Thus, the sheet is pressed against the intermediate transfer member 9 through the transfer material 2 with a predetermined pressure. At the same time, a bias is applied to the transfer roller 10, and the toner image on the intermediate transfer body 9 is transferred to the transfer material 2.
[0046]
Here, since the intermediate transfer body 9 and the transfer roller 10 are respectively driven, the transfer material 2 sandwiched between the two is conveyed at a predetermined speed in the left direction in the drawing at the same time as the transfer process is performed. Then, it is sent to the fixing unit 25 that performs the next process.
[0047]
[Fixing part]
The fixing unit 25 fixes the toner image formed on the transfer material 2 via the intermediate transfer body 9 with the toner image formed by the developing means 20 and 21, and as shown in FIG. A fixing roller 26 for applying heat to the fixing roller 26 and a pressure roller 27 for pressing the transfer material 2 against the fixing roller 26. Each of the rollers 26 and 27 is a hollow roller and has heaters 28 and 29 therein, and is configured to be driven to rotate and convey the transfer material 2 at the same time.
[0048]
That is, the transfer material 2 holding the toner image is conveyed by the fixing roller 26 and the pressure roller 27, and the toner is fixed to the transfer material 2 by applying heat and pressure.
[0049]
[Charging roller cleaning mechanism]
The cleaning mechanism for the charging roller 17 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0050]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a moving member 72 is disposed above the charging roller 17 in parallel with the charging roller 17, and a conductive cleaning brush 71 is fixed to the moving member 72. A part of 17 is in contact with the charging roller 17 in the axial direction, that is, in the longitudinal direction.
[0051]
As shown in FIG. 3, the moving member 72 is supported by bearings 72a and 72b fixed to the cartridge frame 40 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction. A reciprocating return spring 74 as an urging means is attached to one end (left end in the figure) of the moving member 72, and the moving member 72 is always urged rightward in the figure by the elastic force of the reciprocating return spring 74. . A reciprocating lever 73 is attached to the other end of the moving member 72.
[0052]
In the vicinity of the reciprocating lever 73, a shaft member 80 is fixed to the cartridge frame 40 in parallel with the moving member 72, as will be apparent with reference to FIG. 4, and the shaft member 80 has a gear 75 and a gear. A cylindrical cam 76 integrally attached to the left side of 75 in the drawing is attached so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow.
[0053]
A reciprocating lever 73 urged rightward in the drawing by the reciprocating return spring 74 is always in contact with a cylindrical cam 76 having a tapered cross section. The reciprocating lever 73 is fitted to a support guide 77 in the cartridge frame 40.
[0054]
In such a configuration, when the gear 75 is rotated in the arrow direction by appropriate means, the cylindrical cam 76 is also rotated simultaneously, and the reciprocating lever 73 reciprocates in the longitudinal direction of the moving member 72 following the cylindrical cam 76. In this embodiment, the reciprocating movement of about 5 mm is repeated.
[0055]
Note that the reciprocating range of the moving member 72, that is, the moving range of the cleaning brush in the longitudinal direction is on the inner side of the exposed portion 17 b of the metal core 17 a of the charging roller 17. As described above, the cleaning brush 71 does not contact the exposed portion 17b of the core 17a of the charging roller 17, so that the conductive cleaning brush 71 comes into contact with the core 17a having a different potential from the surface of the charging roller 17 for cleaning. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of unstable noise due to a change in the potential of the brush 71.
[0056]
While the cleaning brush 71 is in slight contact with the charging roller 17, it continuously reciprocates in the longitudinal direction in accordance with the rotation of the charging roller 17, so that fine particles generated during charging, in-machine floating toner, and extraneous matter such as dust Can be prevented, the occurrence of a significant voltage drop point can be prevented, and the charging performance can be maintained.
[0057]
Next, the cleaning brush 71 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS.
[0058]
The cleaning brush 71 is a flat-set woven flat brush in which brush fibers are folded at a woven portion 71 a as shown in FIG. 6. The brush fibers use conductive rayon fibers, and the woven portion 71 a is fixed to the moving member 72. Yes. Thereby, the brush part 71b can contact the charging roller 17 lightly. Note that the brush portion 71b is a bristle having a length L = about 10 mm in this embodiment.
[0059]
Edges at both ends of the planar cleaning brush 71 are cut obliquely inward from a direction parallel to the brush portion 71b. In this embodiment, α is cut to about 15 degrees. This is easy to fray when the cut surface is made parallel to the fiber direction (perpendicular to the warp in the longitudinal direction), the hair of the conductive brush is likely to fall out, and the fiber is removed from the woven part by cutting diagonally. Because. Thereby, it can avoid that a conductive fiber falls and approaches a high voltage part, and it can prevent device malfunction accidents, such as a high voltage leak, beforehand.
[0060]
As shown in FIG. 5, the cleaning brush 71 has a woven portion 71 a fixed to the moving member 72 via an insulating sheet 78. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of unstable noise can be suppressed.
[0061]
The cleaning brush 71 of this embodiment is floating from the ground. In other words, by not grounding, the conductive brush rubbed against the charging roller has an electric potential similar to that of the charging roller, and charged roller surface deposits such as floating dust and charged products are scattered by the cleaning brush, and again the charging roller. Can be prevented from being charged with a charge that is easily adsorbed on the surface.
[0062]
In addition, the cleaning brush 71 is in contact with the rotation direction of the charging roller 17 in the forward direction. The brush 71 is always in contact with the charging roller 17 and continuously reciprocates in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the rotation of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 15 and the charging roller 17.
[0063]
In this way, the brush portion 71b abuts in the forward direction, so that it is possible to prevent a large gap from occurring between adjacent brush fibers, and a stable cleaning of the charging roller is possible.
[0064]
The cleaning brush 71 is maintained in a contact posture by a support guide 77 with which the reciprocating lever 73 is fitted.
[0065]
As described above, the cleaning brush 71 is in slight contact with the charging roller 17 and reciprocally moves in the longitudinal direction in accordance with the rotation of the charging roller 17, thereby generating fine particles generated during charging, in-machine floating toner, Deposits such as dust can be prevented, a significant voltage drop point can be prevented, and charging performance can be maintained.
[0066]
Further, even when an adhering matter adheres to the charging roller 17, the cleaning brush scatters the adhering matter continuously, and the charging performance can be constantly maintained throughout the life of the charging roller 17.
[0067]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a charger that can suppress deposits from accumulating on the surface of the charging roller, stably maintain charging performance for a long period of time, and contribute to good image formation. A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus including the charger can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a color laser printer of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view of the drum cartridge of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a main part of the drum cartridge of FIG. 2;
4 is a plan view of the drum cartridge of FIG. 2. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a charging unit according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the cleaning brush of the charging unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Photosensitive drum (electrophotographic photosensitive member)
13 Drum cartridge (process cartridge)
17 Charging roller (charging means)
71 Cleaning brush (conductive brush)
71a Woven portion 71b Brush portion 72 Moving member 78 Insulating member

Claims (12)

In a process cartridge having at least an electrophotographic photosensitive member and charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and detachable from an image forming apparatus,
The charging means is a charging roller, and includes a cleaning member that comes into contact with and contact with the charging roller, and a moving member that supports the cleaning member and is capable of reciprocating along the longitudinal direction of the charging roller.
The cleaning member is a planar conductive brush including a fiber portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the charging roller, the fiber portion includes a woven portion and a brush portion, and the cleaning member includes the cleaning member Fixing a woven portion to the moving member, abutting the brush portion forward with the charging roller;
The cleaning member continuously reciprocates in the longitudinal direction in conjunction with the rotation of the charging roller, and the longitudinal movement range of the cleaning member with respect to the charging roller is the exposure of the metal core included in the charging roller. A process cartridge characterized by being inside the part .   The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein both ends of the woven portion of the conductive brush are cut obliquely with respect to the direction in which the fibers extend.   3. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the conductive brush is suspended from the ground. The moving member is made of metal, the cleaning member is one of a process cartridge of claims 1-3 attached to the moving member via an insulating member. In an image forming apparatus having at least an electrophotographic photosensitive member and charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member,
The charging means is a charging roller, and includes a cleaning member that comes into contact with and contact with the charging roller, and a moving member that supports the cleaning member and is capable of reciprocating along the longitudinal direction of the charging roller.
The cleaning member is a planar conductive brush including a fiber portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the charging roller, the fiber portion includes a woven portion and a brush portion, and the cleaning member includes the cleaning member Fixing a woven portion to the moving member, abutting the brush portion forward with the charging roller;
The cleaning member continuously reciprocates in the longitudinal direction in conjunction with the rotation of the charging roller, and the longitudinal movement range of the cleaning member with respect to the charging roller is an exposed portion of a metal core included in the charging roller. An image forming apparatus characterized by being inside . The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein both ends of the woven portion of the conductive brush are cut obliquely with respect to a direction in which the fibers extend. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the conductive brush is floating from the ground. The moving member is made of metal, the cleaning member is one of an image forming apparatus 7 claims 5 attached to the moving member via an insulating member. In the charger of the image forming apparatus, the charging roller, a cleaning member that contacts and contacts the charging roller, and a moving member that supports the cleaning member and can reciprocate along the longitudinal direction of the charging roller. Have
The cleaning member is a planar conductive brush including a fiber portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the charging roller, the fiber portion includes a woven portion and a brush portion, and the cleaning member includes the cleaning member Fixing a woven portion to the moving member, abutting the brush portion forward with the charging roller;
The cleaning member reciprocates continuously in the longitudinal direction in conjunction with the rotation of the charging roller, and the longitudinal movement range of the cleaning member with respect to the charging roller is from the exposed portion of the metal core included in the charging roller. A charger characterized by being also inside . The charger according to claim 9 , wherein both ends of the woven portion of the conductive brush are cut obliquely with respect to the direction in which the fibers extend. Charger according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the conductive brush is floating from the ground. The moving member is made of metal, one of the charger of the cleaning member from the claims 9 attached to the moving member via the insulating member 11.

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